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AppsAnywhere Packaging Tool


Overview

When packaging applications, background processes, system updates, and other OS-level activities can be captured by snapshotting tools, leading to "dirty" packages that contain unnecessary changes. This tool aims to create a cleaner, quieter environment by applying a series of configurable system changes.

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AppsAnywhere Packaging Tool 3.0


Table of Contents


Tool Download

Easier, faster Packaging

Using this tool can greatly reduce the amount of noise captured during packaging, allowing cleaner packages to be created faster.

Download Packaging Tool 3.0.0

Features & Benefits

The AppsAnywhere Packaging Tool 3.0 has many advantages over its predecessor, and is fully up to date with the latest version of Windows 11.

Silent Mode

The application can run silently requiring no user interaction. The tool is opened in this mode by starting the application with the silent argument. When using this mode a preset config.json can be used to apply changes from a configuration, allowing you to fully customize what actions will take place.

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Tool running in Silent Mode

Comprehensive Logging

The tool provides a log of everything it is doing in the console window, this makes it easy to see what actions are taking place, and find unexpected issues.

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Tool logging while disabling Windows OS Updates

Configurable

The packaging tool can be configured to run any different combination of actions through the UI. This makes it easy to carry out only the exact changes that are required for your use case.

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Action configuration menu


Optional Config Download

The tool is designed to have a default configuration with recommended settings. This configuration has been created to reduce as much noise as possible without causing unexpected issues. This configuration will work best on machines with only a single Administrator account. If you intend to use the tool on a machine with a User account, see Troubleshooting & Known Issues.

Should you wish to silently run the tool with the recommended settings, you can download recommended configuration file. This will allow you to see which settings are enabled without having to run the tool in interactive mode.

Using the Packaging Tool

The AppsAnywhere Packaging Tool supports interactive use via the CLI-based user interface or non-interactive use, where it runs automatically to apply system changes.

Interactive Mode

To run the tool in Interactive mode simply launch the tool by double clicking the executable, or by running it from a command line without arguments.

Controls

The UI of the tool can be navigated using the following controls:

Key

Action

Up Arrow

Move the selection up

Down Arrow

Move the selection down

Enter

Enter the selection if it is a menu or run the selection if it is an action. Used to confirm the selection in configuration menus.

Space

Toggle an action if the selection is applicable, otherwise functions the same as the Enter key

Once inside the tool there are three main options that can be used:

Menu

Usage

Apply Changes

Applies the currently selected changes. If no selection has been made this defaults to applying all changes.

Configuration

Configures what changes the tool should make when Apply Changes is used. Configurations are stored in config.json, which is placed in the directory that the tool is running from.

Exit

Exits the application.

Configuring the Application

To configure the application, enter the Configuration menu. Inside of this menu there are various sub-menus contain various features and settings that can be toggled by using the space bar.

Once configuration is complete, the Save & Return option can be used to preview and confirm the changes made, and then save them to config.json so they can be used by Apply Changes in subsequent runs.

The saved config.json will be saved in the same directory as the packaging tool, and will be read from here in subsequent runs. This allows you to save a copy of config.json and move it between machines so you do not have to configure the tool every time it is used.

Optionally, you can use the preset list of changes to reduce noise as much as possible without affecting usability.

Non-Interactive / Command-Line Mode

Running the tool in slient mode launches the tool with no user interface. Instead, it will automatically apply all the changes as specified in config.json or will apply all changes if the config does not exist.

Running the tool in silent mode without supplying a config.json is generally not recommended due to feature conflicts and the inclusion large actions which may be unnecessary for your use case. Both of these issues can be resolved by first creating a configuration using the tool’s interactive mode, and copying this to the same directory the tool is running from.


To run the tool silently, use the following command: 

.\PackagingTool.exe silent


Logging

By default, the tool will log WARN, ERROR, INFO, and SUCCESS messages to the console as the application is running. The tool will log all of these, with the addition of DEBUG logs tologs\packaging_tool.log

DEBUG logs can also be shown directly in the console by setting the environment variable PACKAGING_TOOL_DEBUG to “true”. To temporarily use this mode the following commands can be run from PowerShell:

$env:PACKAGING_TOOL_DEBUG="true"
.\PackagingTool.exe

To do this in Command Prompt the following commands can be used instead:

set PACKAGING_TOOL_DEBUG=true
PackagingTool.exe

System Change Options

Disable Services

Stops and disables a configurable list of Windows services known to generate background activity or interfere with packaging.
This list does not include services which are disabled as a part of an action, e.g. the disable edge updates action disables edge update services
By reducing unnecessary system churn, this option helps produce a cleaner, more predictable application capture environment.

Display Name

Description

AppX Deployment Service

Provides infrastructure support for deploying Store applications.

Connected User Experiences and Telemetry

Collects and sends usage data to Microsoft.

Client License Service

Provides infrastructure support for the Microsoft Store.

Downloaded Maps Manager

Windows service for application access to downloaded maps.

Fax

Enables you to send and receive faxes.

Geolocation Service

Monitors the current location of the system and manages geofences.

Internet Connection Sharing

Provides network address translation, addressing, and name resolution services.

Microsoft Edge Elevation Service

Keeps Microsoft Edge up to date.

Program Compatibility Assistant Service

Provides support for the Program Compatibility Assistant.

Remote Desktop Configuration

Supports configuration of Remote Desktop and Remote Desktop Services.

Retail Demo Service

Controls device activity while in retail demo mode.

Time Broker

Coordinates execution of background work for WinRT application.

Windows Error Reporting Service

Allows errors to be reported when programs stop working.

Windows Insider Service

Provides infrastructure support for the Windows Insider Program.

Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service

Shares Windows Media Player libraries to networked players.

Windows Mobile Hotspot Service

Provides ability to share cellular data connection with other devices.

Windows Time

Maintains date and time synchronization on all clients and servers.

Windows Image Acquisition

Provides image acquisition services for scanners and cameras.

Xbox Accessory Management Service

Manages connected Xbox accessories.

Xbox Live Auth Manager

Provides authentication and authorization services for Xbox Live.

Xbox Live Game Save

Syncs save data for Xbox Live games.

Xbox Live Networking Service

Supports Xbox Live networking functionality.
Disable Sleep Mode

Applies a system-wide power configuration using powercfg to prevent the machine from entering sleep, hibernation, or monitor standby. This ensures the packaging environment remains uninterrupted during long-running installations or snapshot operations, avoiding incomplete captures or system pauses.

Disable System Restore

Disables System Restore on all fixed drives to prevent restore points being created in the background.

Disable Startup Apps

Removes applications configured to launch automatically at user logon by clearing common Run/RunOnce registry keys and emptying Startup folders. This helps create a clean packaging environment by preventing third-party or pre-installed software from launching and interfering with performance or capturing applications during packaging.

Disable Superfetch (SysMain)

Stops and disables the SysMain (formerly Superfetch) service and updates its registry configuration to prevent it from starting. This prevents Windows from preloading frequently used applications into memory, ensuring consistent system behaviour during performance testing and reducing background disk activity.

Disable Windows Search

Stops and disables the Windows Search (WSearch) service and updates its startup configuration. This prevents background indexing activity, reducing disk and CPU usage that could otherwise interfere with installation captures or performance profiling.

Disable and Uninstall OneDrive

Disables and removes Microsoft OneDrive from the system. This prevents automatic syncing, background processes, and integration with File Explorer that may otherwise introduce unintended file activity during packaging or testing. This also prevents OneDrive from triggering the Notification Center, causing noise for packagers both visually and during installation captures.

Disable Windows Firewall

Disables the Windows Firewall across Domain, Private, and Public profiles. This prevents firewall rules from interfering with application installs, services, or network communication during packaging.

Usage of this feature is generally not recommended due to it conflicting with disabling windows and edge updates.

Disable UAC

Disables User Account Control (UAC) by setting the appropriate system policy. This prevents elevation prompts and reduces security virtualization, ensuring installations run without interruption during packaging.

A system reboot is required for this change to take full effect.

Disable Background Applications

Prevents UWP (Microsoft Store) applications from running background tasks. This is achieved by enforcing per-user background application restrictions and applying a machine-wide policy to force deny background execution. It reduces background noise, resource usage, and unintended network activity while packaging.

Note: Certain system processes such as Runtime Broker may still appear in Task Manager as they are core Windows components and cannot be fully suppressed.

Disable Windows Defender

Disables Windows Defender using the registry keys from version 13 of https://github.com/ionuttbara/windows-defender-remover, along with some additional keys to properly disable smartscreen.

This feature is likely to be broken by Windows Updates.

A system reboot is required for this change to take full effect.

Disable Disk Related Tasks

Disables scheduled disk maintenance tasks such as de-fragmentation and optimization. This helps avoid unexpected disk activity that could interfere or create noise during installation capture.

Disable Edge Updates

Disables Microsoft Edge updates via policy, services, and firewall rules. This prevents Edge from updating in the background, reducing noise and avoiding version changes during packaging.

Disable Windows OS Updates

Disables Windows Update services, scheduled tasks, and related policies. This ensures the OS does not update during packaging, maintaining consistency and preventing unexpected system changes.

Disable Windows Store Updates

Disables automatic updates for Microsoft Store apps via policy and service configuration. This prevents background app updates during packaging, ensuring a stable and predictable environment.

Enable High Performance Power Plan

Activates the High Performance power scheme to prioritize system performance over power saving. This ensures consistent CPU performance, reduces throttling, and eliminates power-related variability during installation, benchmarking, or behaviour analysis.

Set Explorer to Open “This PC”

Configures File Explorer to open “This PC” instead of “Quick Access” by default. This ensures a predictable and neutral Explorer starting view, avoiding recent file history or pinned shortcuts that may differ between environments. This also gives much quicker access to the shared drives for packagers.

Show Hidden Files & Folders

Enables the display of hidden files, folders, and protected operating system items within Windows Explorer. This setting is useful during packaging as it allows the packager to inspect normally concealed system locations, such as AppData, ProgramData, and configuration paths, to verify which files are being created, modified, or accessed by the application.

Show File Extensions

Enables the display of file extensions for all file types in Windows Explorer. This helps accurately identify file types during packaging, avoiding confusion or misidentification of executables and scripts.

Uninstall Appx Apps

Removes selected built-in Windows Appx packages from the system. Reduces background processes and clutter, creating a cleaner environment for packaging and testing.

The selected packages to remove can be configured and doing so is recommended.

Name

Description

Zune Video

Windows Movies and TV app

Zune Music

Legacy Groove music player

Windows Media Player

Modern Windows Media Player app

Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store application

Store Purchase App

Handles Microsoft Store purchases

Power Automate Desktop

Automation tool for creating desktop flows and workflows

Office Hub

Microsoft Office promotional hub

OneNote

Microsoft OneNote note-taking app

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft task management app

Microsoft Whiteboard

Collaborative whiteboard app

Office Sway

Presentation and storytelling tool

Dev Home

Developer dashboard for managing projects and environments

Sticky Notes

Simple note-taking application

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams collaboration and messaging application

Outlook (New)

New Microsoft Outlook mail and calendar application

Skype

Microsoft Skype communication app

Mail & Calendar

Windows Mail and Calendar apps

People

Contact management app

Phone Link

Connect Windows to Android or iPhone

Photos

Windows Photos application

Paint

Classic Microsoft Paint app

Snipping Tool

Screen capture tool

3D Builder

3D modelling app

3D Viewer

View 3D models

Print 3D

3D printing support tool

Clipchamp

Microsoft video editor application

Calculator

Windows calculator app

Alarms & Clock

Windows alarm and clock app

Voice Recorder

Voice recording application

Camera

Windows camera app

Maps

Windows maps application

Weather

Windows weather app

News

Microsoft News app

Finance

Microsoft finance app

Sports

Microsoft sports news app

Network Speed Test

Network speed testing app

Quick Assist

Remote assistance tool for helping other users

Bing Search

Windows Search web integration (Start menu and taskbar search results)

Xbox App

Xbox gaming hub

Xbox Game Bar

Xbox overlay interface

Xbox Game Overlay

Xbox overlay component

Xbox Identity Provider

Xbox authentication provider

Xbox TCUI

Xbox text communication UI

Xbox Gaming App

Xbox gaming hub and Game Pass application

Microsoft Solitaire Collection

Preinstalled Microsoft card games

Xbox Speech to Text Overlay

Provides speech-to-text functionality for Xbox and gaming features

Mixed Reality Portal

Windows Mixed Reality portal

Get Help

Windows help application

Get Started

Windows welcome experience

Feedback Hub

Submit Windows feedback

Spotify

Spotify music streaming app

Disney+

Disney+ streaming application
Enable .NET 3.5

Enables .NET 3.5. This feature can take over to 20 minutes to complete so is generally not recommended unless it is required.

Change Log


Packaging Tool - v3.0.0

Added

  • Initial Release: The first version of the AppsAnywhere Packaging Tool, designed to prepare Windows environments for application packaging.

  • Interactive UI Mode: A rich, menu-driven terminal interface for applying changes and managing settings. This is the default mode when running the executable without arguments.

  • Silent CLI Mode: A silent command to apply settings non-interactively, suitable for automation and scripting.

  • External JSON Configuration:

    • All settings are controlled via a config.json file located next to the executable.

    • The tool defaults to a recommend configuration if config.json is not found.

    • The interactive UI provides a user-friendly editor to create and customize the config.json file.

  • Advanced Features:

    • Granular Service Control: The interactive UI allows users to select specific services to disable, which are grouped by category (e.g., Microsoft Edge, Windows Update, Xbox, Telemetry).

    • Automatic TrustedInstaller Elevation: If the tool fails to disable a protected service due to an “Access Denied” error, it automatically attempts to re-run the operation with TrustedInstaller privileges for maximum reliability.

    • Comprehensive File Logging: All operations are logged to logs/packaging_tool.log for auditing and troubleshooting purposes.

    • Debug Mode: Support for a PACKAGING_TOOL_DEBUG environment variable to enable verbose console and file logging for diagnostics.

    • Automatic Enable Required Services: Uninstall AppX and Enable .NET 3.5 require specific services to be enabled in order to work correctly. The services will automatically be enabled as required, and then restored to their original state once the action is complete.

    • Feature Conflict Resolution: Some actions in the tool can conflict with other features causing them to not work properly, if a configuration with conflicting features is detected the tool will show a conflict resolution dialog and allow the user to solve or ignore the conflict.

  • Logging Improvements:

    • Success, warning, and failure messages included for service stop, service disable and registry write steps.

  • Reboot prompt after all tasks are complete to ensure actions are completed successfully

  • Added Actions

    • Show Hidden Files and Folders

    • Disable Sleep Mode

    • Disable System Restore

    • Disable Services

    • Disable Background Applications

    • Added Enable High Performance Power Plan

    • Disable Startup Apps Action

    • Show File Extensions

    • Disable and Uninstall OneDrive

    • Set Explorer to Open This PC

    • Disable Windows Superfetch (SysMain) Action

    • Disable UAC

    • Disable Windows Firewall

    • Disable Windows Store Updates

    • Disable Microsoft Edge Updates

    • Disable Disk Related Scheduled Tasks

    • Disable Defender

    • Uninstall Appx Apps

    • Disable Windows OS Updates

    • Disable Windows Search Action

    • Enable .NET 3.5


Troubleshooting & Known Issues

Configuration Issues

Some issues you may face are likely to be caused by an overzealous configuration. Something that may look like an error can just be the unintended consequence of an action.
An example of this is not being able to open Snipping Tool because it has been uninstalled by the Uninstall AppX Apps action:

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User Accounts

If the tool is run on a machine with both a user account and an admin account issues may happen when using the default configuration.

The following may appear while trying to launch an AppX app. This can be resolved by leaving the ClipSvc and AppXSvc services enabled.

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Using the Disable UAC action may also cause issues in this scenario, as you will be unable to run anything as administrator from the user account.


Actions

Disable Windows Defender

The disable windows defender action will leave Windows Security Settings in an inaccessible state, this change cannot be reverted through the tool. If you would like to check that the action has disabled Defender successfully this should be checked via Task Manager after a reboot.

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Windows Security Settings will show blank.

Enable .NET 3.5

This action can take a long time to complete, unfortunately this is native behaviour and this cannot be fixed.

Packaging Tool Issues

If the problem is happening within the tool, troubleshooting can be done by inspecting the output as the tool is running, or by inspecting the packaging_tool.log file.

There are some actions which are likely to be broken by future Windows updates, especially the Disable Defender action.